Machine for filling containers to predetermined weight



March 8, 1960 E. R. OVERMAN MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS TO PREDETERMINED WEIGHT Filed Dec. 6, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

March 8, 1960 E. R. OVERMAN 2,927,763

MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS TO PREDETERMINED WEIGHT Filed Dec. 6, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 1222: E Gamma/v;

ATTOF/VEH March 8, 1960 E. R. OVERMAN 2,927,763

MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS TO PREDETERMINED WEIGHT 6 Sheets-Sheet I5 Filed Dec. 6, 1954 IN VEN TOR.

2.21; 1? 0022mm: N,

March 8, 1960 E. R. OVERMAN 2,927,763

MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS TO PREDETERMINED WEIGHT Filed Dec. 6, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 4 I I U 125 III r 102 I02 I T IN V EN TOR. E1122 1?! 01/579169,

ATTOFJVZK March 8, 196 E. R. OVERMAN 2,927,763

MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS TO PREDETERMINED WEIGHT Filed Dec. 6, 1954 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 ,tfjcjz.

INVENTOR. Emu 7?. 0212mm,

March 8, 1960 E. R. OVERMAN MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS TO PREDETERMINED WEIGHT 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed Dec. 6, 1954 IN VEN TOR. 00mm United States Patent MACHINE FOR FILLING CONTAINERS TO PREDETERMINED WEIGHT Earl R. Overman, Wabash, Ind.; Mary B. Overman, executrix of said Earl R. Overman, deceased, assignor to Rock Wool Engineering and Equipment Company,

Inc., Wabash, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Application December 6, 1954, Serial No. 473,123

' 14 Claims. 01. 249-57 This invention relates to container filling mechanism and particularly to a machine for automatically filling containers to a predetermined weight.

The primary'object of the invention is to provide a machine upon which may be supported an empty container in registry with a tube for delivering material to said container, such machine incorporating such automatic control features that, upon a sufficient weight of material having been delivered to the container, the flow of material will be cut off and will not thereafter be resumed until the filled container is removed and replaced by an empty container.

A further object is to provide such a machine having two such filling stations, and including such automatic features that, upona container becoming filled, the flow of material will be directed from that container to the other container, and, should the other container then be filled, the entire machine will be shut down and will be prevented from restarting until at least one of the filled containers has been removed. Thereafter, the operator will mount an empty container and restart the machine by actuating a Start switch.

A'still further object is to provide means for compacting the material in the container after it has become filled with the desired weight of material. 7

Another object is to provide novel means for removably attaching the containers in such a machine, and, in one form, to provide such means so constructed that it can be adjusted to accommodate containers of varying sizes.

A further object is to provide, in such a machine, contion means in response to the height of a column of the material being filled into a container.

Further objects of the inventionwill appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the above and related objects, my invention may be embodied in the forms illustrated in the accompanying drawings, attention being called to the fact, however, that the drawings are illustrative only, and that change may be made in the specific constructions illustrated and described, so long as the scope of the appended claims is not violated.

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of a preferred embodiment of my invention;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the machine of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is'a fragmental perspective view taken from the right of Fig. 2 and showing one form of means for directing material flow alternately between the two filling stations therein, and the means for supporting each such station on the machine frame;

Fig.4 is a fragmental perspective view showing the means used to compact the material in a container;

Fig. ,S is a rear elevational view showing a further means for directing the material fiow alternately between the two filling stations;

Fig. 6 is a view similar to that of Fig. and showing a still further means for so directing the material flow;

trol means of such character as to actuate the fiow-direc- Fig. 7 is a perspective View of one form of means for releasably holding a container on the machine while being filled;

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 7 but looking from the opposite corner thereof;

. Fig. 9 is a side elevation of a modified form of the holding means of Figs. 7 and 8 showing a form so constructed as to be adjustable to accommodate containers of varying sizes;

Fig. 10 is a front elevation of the device of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic view showing the fluid motor and control system for driving the machine;

Fig. 12 is a schematic diagram showing the electrical control system for the machine;

Fig. 13 is a broken elevation illustrating an alternative,

container-clamping means;

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary view, similar to Fig. 1, of a modified form of machine in which the direction of flow of material is controlled in response to the attainment of a predetermined height of the column of material in a filling tube; and

Fig. 15 is a fragmentary side elevation of the form of machine illustrated in Fig. 14.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, and especially toFigs. 1 and 2,'a frame 10 has supported thereon a pair of laterally spaced, substantially vertical filling stations indicated generally by the reference numerals 11 and 12. Preferably, a bucket type elevator 13 is suitably associated with frame 10 for elevating material to the filling stations as hereinafterto be described.

Filling station 11 includes a filling tube 14, and station 12 includes a filling tube 15 substantially parallel to tube 14. Each tube is supported on frame 10 for limited axial reciprocation. To this end, each tube is provided with a pair of supporting links 16, 16a, one on either side of the tube, and each having one end pivoted to its tube upon a common axis 17 substantially perpendicular to a plane including the axis of the tube. Said links lie substantially in a common horizontal plane and are pivoted at their opposite ends to frame 10 upon a common axis .18 (Fig. 2).

Vertically spaced from links 16 is a second pair of horizontally extending links 19, 19a for each tube. Frame 10 is provided with horizontal portions 20 straddling tubes 14 and 15, and each link-19 has one end thereof pivoted on a frame portion 20, adjacent its respective tube and upon a common axis 21. Each tube is provided with a pair of oppositely projecting, knife edge fingers 22, each being so arranged as to be supported on the upper edge of one of the link pairs 19, 19a, whereby the entire weight of the tube is rested upon that link pair (Figs. 2 and 3), the link pair 16 acting merely to provide lateral stability for the tube.

The opposite ends of each link pair 19 are fixed together by, for instance, a horizontal bar 23 extending between said linkends (Fig. 3). A beam balance 24 is provided for each tube. A link 25 operatively connects bar 23 to the load-receiving end of balance 24 which is, in turn, supported from frame 10 upon the fulcrum support 26. counterbalance weights 27 are supported at the opposite end of the beam to urge each tube toward its uppermost position. By compensating for the weight of the tube by the use of counterbalance weights 27, it will be seen that the weight of a filled container, supported from the tube as later to be described, an be observed from an inspection of the balance slide Tubes 14 and 15 are respectively provided, near their upper ends, with laterally opening, mutually facing apertures 28 and 29. A hopper, indicated generally by the reference numeral 30'is supported upon frame 10 between tubes 14 and 15 and opens oppositely in registry with tube apertures 28 and 29 (Figs. 1 and 3). As will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 3, there is no fixed connection between the hopper and the tubes. Each tube is provided with vertical flanges 31 guarding the vertical boundaries of its aperture, such flanges overlying the adjacent edges of the hopper to provide a vertically slidable juncture between the hopper and tube.

Alternatively, of course, the hopper may be made wide enough to overlie, and to discharge into, the open upper ends of the tubes 14 and '15, and said tube ends may be telescopically associated with the hopper or may be flexibly connected thereto by suitable boots.

As shown, hopper 36 comprises vertical front and rear Wall portions 32 and 33 extending between tubes 14 and 15, and a top wall 34. Top wall 34 isprovided with an opening 35 for the introduction of1materialinto the hopper. To direct the flow of material thus fed to hopper 3t alternately to one or the other of tubes .14 and 15, through their respective apertures, liprovi-de, in the preferred form of my invention, a reversible valve 36. Said valve comprises arectangular plate 37 pivoted, interediate its ends, upon an axle 38 substantially perpendicular to the hopper walls 32 and 33. Hopper 39 is further provided with an inverted V-shaped divider member 39 constituting the lower wall of thehopper and having its apex terminating along'the axis of axle 38. Preferably, but not necessarily, guide vanes 40 and 41 are fixed in hopper 3% for cooperation with valveplate 37.

in one attitude, plate 3'7 assumes a position substantially coincident with a diagonal through hopperfitl and. in cooperation with one leg of element 39 and vane 40, forms a diagonal wall through the hopper from the upper corner adjacent tube 14 to the lower corner adjacent the lower edge of aperture 29 in tube 15. By swinging plate 37 about the axis of axle 38, the plate will form, in cooperation with the other leg of element 39 and vane 4i, a diagonal wall through the hopper from theuppercorner thereof adjacent tube 15 to the lower corner adjacent aperture 28 in tube 14. Thus it will be seen that material flowing into hopper 30 through opening 35 can be easily directed into either of tubes 14 and 15 by the correct positioning of plate 37.

While plate 37 can be swung manually from one position to the other, I prefer to provide, in the present form of my invention, a fluid motor 42 connected by means of a crank 43 to axle 38. Means for controllingthe motor will later be described.

Where the elevator 13 is: employed, a spout or chute 44 is connected between the discharge opening in the elevator and opening 35 in the hopper 30. Alternatively, means such as a conveyor belt could have a horizontal run thereof discharging material directly into'the hopper.

In Figs. 5 and 6, I have shown modified means for reversibly directing the material flowing into hopper 3% from one to the other of tubes 14 and 15. In Fig. 5, endless conveyor means 45, here shown in the form of a belt 46 having fins 47 projecting therefrom, is arranged to span the hopper from one tube to the other. A pair of rollers 4% and 49 is journalled in hopper 30a upon parallel axes substantially perpendicular to the rear wail 33a and the parallel front wall thereof and belt'46 is supported to run over these rollers. A reversible motor 5% drives the conveyor means in opposite directions pending upon the tube to which the materialis to be fed.

in Fig. 6, a drum member 51 is journal mounted in hopper 3% upon an axle 52 substantially perpendicular to rear wall 33b and the parallel front wall of the hopper, and is provided with a series of radially project ing, longitudinally extending vanes 53. A reversible motor 54 drives drum 51 in opposite directions depending upon the tube to which the material is to be fed.

The machine, as here illustrated and described, is intended primarily for use in filling paper bags with insulating material in pellet form such as rock wool, fiber glass or the like, although it will be obvious that the machine 'can'be used for materials of "other kinds. However, where, as here, the containers used are in the form of paper or cloth bags, I prefer to provide means for releasably suspending such containers with their mouths sleeved over the open ends of the filling tubes. To this end, each tube, in the preferred form (Figs. 7 and 8), is rectangular in cross-section and is provided with a pair of horizontal brackets 55 and 56 'fixed to opposite sides of the tube and projecting beyond the walls included between these sides. At one end of the brackets, a pair of substantially parallel axles 57 and 58 are horizontally journalled between the brackets in substantial parallelism with the adjacent wall 59. A plate member 60 is fixed along its upper edge to axle 57 and depends therefrom in substantial parallelism with wall 59. "Preferably, side wings 61 and 62 are carried by plate 60 and extend from the lateral edges of said plate along the adjacent sides of the tube.

One or more fingers63are fixed to axle 58 and depend therefrom-in substantial parallelism with plate 60. Each such finger is provided with a cushion 64, of rubberor like material. Preferably, but notnecessarily, I provide one or more fingers 65 fixed to axle 58 and projecting upwardly therefrom. A coiled spring 66 is confined between the upper end of each such'finger and the tube wall 59 to urge the fingers 63 to swing about the axle 58 to press cushions 64 resiliently toward plate 69.

Axle 57 is provided witha gear 67 and axle 58 is similarly provided with'a gear 68-meshing with gear6'7. As will be seen from such an arrangemennmovement of plate 60 about axle 57 in one direction will drive-fingers 63 on axle 58 in an opposite direction. Thus movement in one direction will swing cushions 64 into engagement with plate 64), and movement in the opposite direction will swing cushions 64 out of engagement with said plate.

A bag 69 is telescopicallysleeved over the open end of a tube while the cushions 64 are normally held away from plate 60. The rim of the bag is moved between the cushions and the plate. The cushions are then swung toward engagement with plate 60 thereby clamping the bag to the tube; and it will be seen that springs :66.resi1iently tend to maintain this clamping effect. To more positively hold the bag in such position, Ipreferto .provide another axle 70 horizontally journalledbetween the brackets 55 and 56 adjacent the wall 71 and carrying fingers 72 similar to fingers .63. Cushions 73,, similar to cushions 64, are carried on the finger ends to clamp the bag rim between said cushions and wall 71.

.Afluid motor 74 is pivotally-supported .upomthetube as at 75 on one side thereof between walls 59 :and'71. The piston rod 76 carries a block 77. A crank :arm 78 has one end connected to axle 57 and the other end formed with an axially extending ,slot.,79 therein. :A bolt 80 takes through said slot and isrfixed to block 77 V to provide a sliding connection between motor 74 and crank 78. r

A second crank arm 81 has one end'fixed toa stub shaft 82 carrying a gear 33 meshing :with gear 84 on axle 70. The opposite end of crank 81 of operatively connected to block 77. Thus, axialmovement'ofpiston rod 76 will drive plate 69 and finger sets 63 and 72 about their respective axles to release or securely clamp bag 69 to the end of the tube.

In some cases, it may be desirable to actuate the plate 66 and fingers 63 through one motor and to actuate the fingers 72 through another motor. Such an'arrangement is illustrated in Fig. 13, in which the motor 74 is connected to shift the arm 78 in the manner illustrated in Fig. .8, but in which another motor 74' 'ismounted "on the opposite wall of tube 14 to actuate an arm :81 connected to drive 'a gear 83 meshing with 'gear '84"on axle 70. Motors 74 and '74 will, of course, "be "counected'to operate synchronously to shift the front and rear clamping mechanisms together.

In some instances, it is desirable that the bag holding means be adjustable to accommodate bags of varying sizes. Tothis end, I have provided a modified form of such means (Figs. 9 and .10) in which the brackets 85 and 86 form track means upon which is guided a pair of bearing blocks 87 and 88, in turn supporting the axles 89 and 90, similar to axles 57 and 58. Each track supports a screw 91 threadedlyengaging its respective block whereby rotation of the screw will move the block toward or away from the tube wall59 thereby decreasing or increasing the effective perimetral dimension of the tube. One screw 91 carries a. hand wheel-92 and the screws are drivingly connected as by chain-and-sprocket arrangement 93 illustrated in the drawings.

As stated above, the machine, as illustrated, is intended for use in filling loose, bulky material, such .as mineral wool into paper bags- Because of the characteristics of such material, it is necessary to provide means for compacting the material in the container. To this end, I provide a ram or plunger 94 (Figs. 1 and 4) for axial reciprocation in tube 14. A similar plunger 95 is provided for tube 15. A fluid motor 96, having its piston drivingly connected through piston rod 97 to plunger 94, is supported from frame substantially coaxial with tube .14. A similar fluid motor 98, having its piston drivingly connected through piston rod 99 to plunger 95, is similarly supported onframe 10 in alignment with tube (Fig. 11). As the required weight of material is deposited in one or the other of the tubes, control means will actuate vane 37 of valve 36 to direct the flow of material from that tube, to the other, while simultaneously activating the motor of that tube to move the plunger through one stroke from its position immediately above the aperture to a position near the lowertube end thereby compacting the material inthe container suspended therefrom.

Fluid flow to and from the several fluid motors is controlled by means of the system illustrated in Fig. 11. A foot treadle 100 is provided for each filling station (Figs. 2 and 11), and is operatively connected through a link 101 with a fluid valve 102. valve as illustrated, fluid is directed from a source through conduit 103 to the upper side of the piston of motor 74 thus moving it down to swing plate 60 and fingers 63 and 72 into active engagement. In its other position, fluid is directed to the lower side of the piston to move the fingers and plate out of active engagement.

Each motor 96 and 98 is respectively controlled by an electrically actuated fluid valve 104 or 105. In the illustrated'position of valve 104, fluid is directed from the source through the valve and conduit 106 to the lower side of the piston of motor 96, moving the piston.

up to its illustrated position and holding it there. The upper side of the piston is vented through valve 104 by means of conduit 107.

When valve 105 assumes its illustrated position, fluid is directed from the source through the valve and conduit 108 to the'upper side of the piston, thus forcing the piston, and its associated plunger, down to compact the material. The moment the piston begins its downward movement, the exhaust from beneath the piston is directed through the valve, by means of conduits 109 and 110, to the lower side of the piston of fluid motor 42 thus reversing valve 36. Similarly, the lower end of motor 96 is connected through valve 104, by means of conduits 106 and 111 to the upper side of the piston of motor 42 so that downward movement of the piston of motor 96 will move valve 36to its opposite position. Suitably-valved vents 110 and 111' provide for return of excess fluid to a reservoir (not shown) after the piston of motor 42 has moved to the limit of its stroke in either direction.

Control of the valves 104 and 105 is accomplished by means of the novel control system illustrated in Fig. 12 and now to be described.

Plunger 94 is guided in its vertical movement by a pair In the position of the;

of stabilizing rods 112 fixed to the plunger and axially reciprocable in guide tubes 113 supported on frame 10. Plunger is similarly guided by rods 115 sliding in tubes 114 (Figs. 1, 2 and 4). One of the pair of tubes 113 and one of the pair 114 is longitudinally slotted and the rod therein, near its upper end, is provided with a cam dog 116. An upper, normally open limit switch 117 (Fig. 12) is supported in the path of dog 116 of plunger 94,'and a similar switch 118 is supported in the path of the dog 116 of plunger 95. A lower, normally closed limit switch 119 is supported in the path of the dog of plunger 94 and a similar switch 120 is supported in the path of the .dog of plunger 95.

Beam balance 24, supporting the tube 15, has a twopole switch 121 (Figs. 3 and 12) controlled by the movement of said balance. The beam balance supporting tube 14 has a similar switch 122 controlled thereby.

In the illustrated embodiment of the invention, valve 104 is actuated by a solenoid coil 123 and valve 105 is actuated by a solenoid coil 124. Preferably, a transformer 125 is incorporated to provide the control current.

The desired operation is as follows: When the various motors and valves are in their positions illustrated in Fig. 11, beam balance 24 of tube 15 will have just tripped switch121, actuating valve 105 to direct fluid to the upper side of the piston in motor 98, the exhaust from said motor reversing valve36 to direct material flow to tube 14.

After plunger 95 reaches the bottom of its compacting stroke, it opens the lower limit switch 120 reversing valve 105 to return the piston and plunger to its upper rest position, where upper limit switch 118 is closed, thereby setting up a condition in which valve 105 cannot again be reversed until the container is removed from tube 15.

During this time material has been deposited in the container of tube 14. When the desired weight is arrived at, the beam balance 24 of the tube 14 will actuate switch 122, thereby energizing valve 104 to shift it from its illustrated position to its lower position. However, if, at the moment switch 122 is so actuated, the filled bag has not been removed from tube 15, the entire machine will be shut down. 7 But if, at that time, the filled bag has been removed and replaced by an empty bag, valve 105 will direct fluid to move the piston of motor 96 downward, reversing valve 36. This cycle will be continuous so long as filled bags are removed from the machine as soon as they become filled and. the material has been compacted therein.

To accomplish the above operation, I provide, for tube 14, a four-pole, single-coil relay 131, and a four-pole, double-coil relay 132. -I provide similar relays 133 and 134 for tube 15. A further single-coil relay 135 is pro-' vided to control the supply of current to the machine.

The contacts of relay 135 are normally open. Line current is fed to the individual contacts of the relay through conductors 136 and from the relay through conductors 138 to the motor 137 driving the bucket elevator 13. Conductors 139 connect the relay to the transformer 125. From one side of the line, a conductor 140 leads to coil 123, and a conductor 141 leads to coil 124.

From one side of transformer 125, a common conductor 142 feeds the coil 143 of relay 131, the coil 144 of relay 133, the double coil 145 of relay 132, and the double coil 146 of relay 134. A common conductor 147 connects the other side of the transformer, through conductor 148 with switch armature 126, and through conductor 149 with switch armature 129. Conductor 147 connects also to pole-pairs 150 and 151 of relay 131 and pole-pairs 152 and 153 of relay'133. From pole-pair 150, a conductor 154 connects through pole pair 155, of relay 132,.and conductor 156 to side a of coil 145, to establish an energizing circuit for that side of said coil. From pole-pair 152, a conductor 157 connects through pole-pair 158, of relay 134 and conductor 158', to side (1" of coil 146 to establish an energizing circuit for that side of said coil.

Pole-pair 151 is connected through lower limit switch 119 by conductors 159 and 168 to the other side of relay coil 143, thereby providing a holding circuit for relay 131. Similarly, pole-pair 153 is connected through lower limit switch 128 by conductors 161 and 162 to the other side of relay coil 144 thereby providing a holding circuit for relay 133.

Pole 163 of switch 122 is connected by conductor pole-pair 165 of relay 131, conductor 166, pole-pair 167 of relay 132 and conductor 167, to side b of coil 145 thereby establishing an energizing circuit for that side of said coil. Similarly, pole 128 of switch122is connected by 68' conductor 168, pole-pair of relay 133, conductor 169, pole-pair 170 of relay 134, and conductor 171 to side b of relay coil 146, thereby establishing an energizing circuit for that side of said coil.

Pole 138 of switch 122 is connected by conductor 172, pole-pair 173 of relay 132, conductor 174, upper limit switch 117, and conductors 175 and 160 to relay coil 143 to establish an energizing circuit for relay 131. Pole 127 of switch 121 is similarly connected by conductor 176, pole-pair 177 of relay 134, conductor 178, upper limit switch 118, and conductors 179 and 162 to relay coil 144 to establish an energizing circuit for relay 133.

A common conductor 180 connects the power sourc through conductor 181, pole-pair 182 of relay 133, and conductor 183, to valve coil 124 to complete the energizing circuit for said coil. Valve coil 123 connects to the power source through conductor 185, pole-pair 184 of relay 131, and conductor 180 to complete the energizing circuit for that coil. p

The coil 186 of relay 135 is connected on one side to the power source and on the other side to one pole of a normally-closed Stop switch 187. A conductor 188 connects said Stop switch to one side of a Start switch 189, the other side of which is connected to the power source through conductors 190 and 180. A holding circuit for coil 186 is established through Stop switch 187, conductor 188, pole-pair 191 of relay-135, conductor 192 connected to conductor 193 joining pole-pairs 194 and 195 respectively of relays 132 and 134, conductor 196 connecting the companion poles of said pole-pairs, and conductors 197 and 188 to the power source. Thus, it will be seen that if both pole-pairs 194 and 195 are simultaneously opened, coil 186 will be deenergized, cutting ofi current to the entire machine. a

At the instant when a bag at the tube 14 has received the predetermined intended weight of material, the switch 117 will be closed, because the plunger 94 will be at the top of its stroke, and the relays 131 and 132 will be in their illustrated positions. Assuming that the holding circuit for the entire machine through the Stop switch 187 is closed, the balance beam 24 associated with the tube 14 will at this instant rise to shift the armature 129 of the switch 122 into contact with the pole 130.

Relay coil 143 will thus be energized through a circuit traced from the transformer 125 through wire 147, wire 1 49, armature 129, pole 130, wire 172, bridged pole-pair 173, wire 174, switch 117, wire 175, Wire 160, relay coil 143 and Wire 142 back to the transformer 125. Relay 131 will thus be shifted to bridge pole-pairs 150, 151 and 184 and to open pole-pair 165.

The relay coil 123 will thus be energized through a circuit to be traced from the line through wire 140, coil 123, wire 185, pole-pair 184 and wire 180 back to the line.

Energization of the coil 123 will shift the valve 104 to supply pressure fluid to the upper side of the piston of the motor 96, and the plunger 94 will start down, causing the switch 117 to open. A holding circuit for the coil 143, however, has been established through the cir- 8 cuit from transformer 125 through wire 147, pole-pair 151, wire 159, switch 119, wire 160, coil 143 and wire 142 back to the transformer.

As the plunger '94 starts downwardly, the valve 36 will be promptly shifted, as above explained.

Energization of relay coil 143 also energizes part a of relay coil 145 through a circuit from the transformer 125 through wire 147, pole-pair 150, wire 154, polepair 155, wire 156, part a of coil 145 and wire 142 back to transformer 125. Thus, pole-pairs 194, 155 and 173 will be opened, while pole-pair 167 will be bridged.

When the plunger reaches the bottom of its stroke, it opens switch 119, thus deenergizing coil 143 to return relay 131 to its illustrated position and to deenergize coil 123 to permit the return of valve 104 to its illustrated position, whereby plunger 94 will be returned to the top of its stroke.

Now the treadle associated with thetube 14 is actuated to energize its associated motor 74 to release the bag; the bag is removed and replaced by an empty bag, and the beam 24 drops to shift the armature 129 of switch 122 into contact with pole 163.

At this time, the relay 132 (which is of the unbiased type) is in its position opposite that illustrated while the relay 131 is in its illustrated position.

Closure of the armature 129 onto pole 163 establishes an energizing circuit for part b of relay coil 145 from transformer through wire 147, wire 149, armature 129, pole 163, wire 164, pole-pair 165, wire 166, polepair 167, part b of coil 145 and wire 142 to the transformer 125. The armature of relay 132 is thus moved to its illustrated position, and the system is ready for a new cyclewhen the beam 24 again rises to shift the armature 129 to its pole 130.

Meantime, of course, a similar cycle is being followed in the other side of the system, initiated by the rise of the beam 24 associated with the tube 15 to shift the armature 126 of switch 121 to its pole 127.

In the illustrated position of the set of components associated with tube 15, motor 98 will be moving plunger 95 downward. When it reaches the bottom of its stroke, it will open lower limit switch 120, thereby breaking the holding circuit for relay 133 through pole-pair 153 thereof, and the relay will shift to the illustrated position of relay 131 deenergizing valve coil 124 and energizing, through pole-pair 168', side b of relay coil 145 to shift the relay 134 to the illustrated position of relay 132. Subsequent closing of upper limit switch 118 and armature 126 of switch 121 with pole 127 will again energize relay coil 144 to repeat the cycle.

As before stated, should both switches 121 and 122 be closed through their respective poles 127 and 139, both relays 132 and 134 will be shifted to, or held in, the illustrated position of relay 134 resulting in the opening of pole-pairs 194 and 195. As will be seen from an inspection of Fig. 12, this will break the holding circuit for relay opening the contacts thereof and shutting down the entire machine. The machine cannot thereafter be restarted until one or both switches 121 and 122 are closed through their respective contacts 128 and 163. This will occur upon the removal of one or both of the filled containers from their respective tubes. Thereafter, the machine can be restarted by closing Start switch 189.

The machine presents a compact automatic device for performing a task heretofore performed by hand, performing that task in a much more facile and uniform manner, thereby effecting a saving in man hours and a standardization of the end product.

In Figs. 14 and 15, I have illustrated a modified form of machine in which the valve plate 37' will be shifted, and the compacting cycle will be initiated, in response to the attainment of a variably-predetermined height of the column of material in the tube 14 or the tube 15'.

In this embodiment of the invention, the tubes 14' and 15 may be stationarily supported from the frame in any suitable manner, and the beam balances 24 may be eliminated. A bracket 200 is suitably supported, either from each tube or from the frame adjacent each tube, as shown, for vertical adjustment relative to the tube. A light source 201 is supported by each bracket near the front wall of its associated tube and in registry with a window 202. in that wall, closed by any suitable translucent material. The window 202 is preferablyvertically elongated to any desired degree for a reason which will become apparent, and a similar window is provided in the rear wall of the tube, a light-sensitive cell 203 being carried on the bracket 200 in registry with such rear window. V

Thus, so long as the space between the front and rear windows is clear, a light beam projected from the source 2.01 will fall upon the cell 203. When, however, the column of material in the tube has been built up 'to the level of that beam, the beam will be interrupted. The cell 203 and its associated system may be so calibrated, of course, that the system will not be actuated by the interference of material falling through the tube past the beam.

The cell associated with the tube 14' is connected to close the switch 122 upon itspole 130 when its beam is interrupted, and the cell associated with the tube 15 is connected to close the switch 121 upon its pole 127 when its beam is interrupted. The operation of this form of the invention, then, will be the same astthat described above, except that the height of the column of material being filled, rather than its weight, will dominate the cycling of the machine. v

Each bracket 200 is preferably mounted for vertical adjustment relative to its tube 14 or 15 so that the column height at which the cycling mechanism will be actuated may be adjusted; and any suitable means may be adopted to that end. As shown, the bracket 200 is guided in a vertically-arranged trackway 204 carried on the frame 10, and a screw shaft 205 is provided for shifting the position of said bracekt on said trackway.

As material is discharged from the inclined valve plate 37' into tube 14' or tube 15' it tends, of course, to flow toward the remote side of the tube, so that the upper surface of the column of material, as it builds up in either tube, may be upwardly andoutwardly inclined. For this reason, I prefer to locate the windows 202 and the light-sensitive systems, near the inner sides of the tubes 14' and 15, as shown.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a device of'the class described, a pair of laterallyspaced, substantially-vertical tubes, the lower ends of said tubes being open, means for temporarily acting as a closurefor the lower end of each tube, hopper means disposed between said tubes for-direct communication therewith adjacent the upper ends of said tubes, counterbalance means supporting each'of said tubes for independent vertical movement relative to said hopper means, said hopper means being provided with an opening for the passage of material thereinto, reversely-movable means mounted in said hopper means to direct the flow of material through said hopper means alternatively to said tubes, means responsive to downward movement of either of said tubes to a predetermined degree, to shift said reversely-movable means to direct the flow of material to the other of said tubes, and a plunger axially reciprocable in each tube from a position above the point of communication with said hopper to a position adjacent the lower, open end of said tube, the plungerof one tube being reciprocable only during the time said reversely-m ovable means is directing the flow of material through said hopper into said other tube.

2. The device of claim 1 including individual motor means for each said plunger, each motor means comprisspea /ea dominated by said individual motor means jointly and connected to controlsaid reversely-movable means.

3. In a device of the class described, a pair of laterally-spaced, substantially-vertical tubes, the lower ends of said tubes being open, means for temporarily acting as a closure for the lower end of each tube, hopper means disposed between said tubes for direct communication therewith adjacent the upper ends of said tubes, counterbalance means supporting each of said tubes for independent vertical movement relative to said hopper means, said hopper means being provided with an opening for the passage of material thereinto, reversely-movable means mounted in said hopper means to direct the flow of material through said ho'pper means alternatively to said tubes, means responsive to downward movement of either of said tubes to a predetermined degree, to shift said reversely-movable means to direct the flow of material to the other of said tubes, moto'r means operatively connected to said reversely-movablemeans, control means responsive to such downward movement of one of said tubes to energize the motor means of said reversely-movable means to direct the flow of material from said one tube to the other of said tubes, control means responsive to such downward movement of the other of said tubes to energize the motor means of said reversely-movable means to direct the flow of material from said other tube to said one tube, a plunger axially reciprocable in each tube between a position above the point of communication with said hopper and a position adjacent the lower, open end of said tube to compact the material in said tube, and motor means for each plunger operatively connected to drive its plunger through one stroke only after its associated control means has acted to energize the motor means of said reversely-movable means to direct the material flow through said hopper from that tube into said other tube.

4. In a device of the class described, a frame, a pair of laterally spaced, substantially vertical filling tubes, means supporting each tube in said frame for limited axial reciprocation, such meanscomprising, for each tube, a pair of vertically spaced, substantially parallel, horizontally extending links, the first link having one end pivoted to said tube upon an axis substantially perpendicular to a plane including said tube axis, and the other end pivoted to said frame upon an axis substantially parallel to that of said one end, and the second link hav ing one end pivoted to said frame immediately adjacent said tube and upon an axis parallel to the axes of said one link, and a laterally projecting finger fixed to said tube and engaging the upper edge of said second link closely adjacent the pivoted end thereof whereby the weight of said tube is imposed directly on said second link, a beam balance for each tube, link means operatively connecting the other end of said second link to one end of said beam balance whereby the weight of said tube is imposed on said balance, holding means carried by each tube near the lower end thereof for releasably suspending an empty container beneath the lower, open end of said tube, each of said tubes being further formed with laterally opening, mutually facing apertures near the upper ends thereof, a hopper supported on said frame between said tubes and opening in registry with said tube apertures, said hopper having an o'pening for the feeding of material thereinto, reversible means carried by said hopper to direct the flow of material being fed into said hopper alternately from one to the other of said tube apertures, motor means for driving said reversible means, and control means for each tube responsive to downward movement 'of that tube as material is fed into said tube and deposited in the container suspended therefrom, said control means acting to energize the motor means of said reversible means, after a predetermined weight of material has been deposited in said container, to actuate said reversible means to direct the fio'w of material from that tube to the other tube.

above the tube aperture to a position adjacent the lower,

open end thereof to compact the material in the container suspended from that tube, and motor means for each plunger, the control means for each tube acting to energize its plunger motor means substantially simultaneously with the energization of the motor means of said reversible means to direct the flow of material from that tube to the other tube.

6. The device of claim 5 in which the motor means of said reversible means comprises a fluid cylinder having a piston reciprocable therein, and each of the plunger motor means comprises a fluid cylinder having a piston reciprocable therein and operatively connected to drive its respective plunger, said device further comprising fluid control means for said motor means comprising an electrically actuated fluid valve for each plunger motor, conduit means connecting each said valve to a source of fluid pressure, conduit means connecting each valve to one end of its plunger-motor cylinder, conduit means connecting one valve to one end of the cylinder of the reversible-means motor, and conduit means connecting the other valve to the other end of the cylinder of the reversible-means motor, each of said valves being so constructed that, in one position, it will direct fluid from the source to the upper end of its associated plunger cylinder while establishing a fluid path from the lower end of that cylinder to one end of the cylinder of the reversiblemeans motor, and, in another position, it will vent the upper end of that cylinder to the atmosphere. vent the last said end of the cylinder of the reversible-means motor to the atmosphere, and direct fluid from the source to the lower end of its associated plunger cylinder.

7. The device of claim 6 including automatic electric control means for energizing said fluid valve comprising, for each valve, tube, and plunger arrangement, a normally-open, upper limit switch closed by said plunger in its uppermost position, a normally-closed, lower limit switch opened by said plunger when in its lowermost position, a two-pole switch actuated by the axial movement of said tube, said switch being closed through one pole when said tube is in its uppermost position and through the other pole when said tube is in its lowermost position and means so inter-connectingsaid switches that said fluid valve will be energized upon the closing of the said two-pole switch through said other pole thereof at a time when said upper limit switch is closed and will be deenergized upon the opening of said lower limit switch, so that said fluid valve means cannot thereafter be reenergized upon the closing of said upper limit switch until after said two-pole switch has been closed through said one pole thereof. j

8. The control means of claim 7 in which said lastnamed means comprises, for each fluid valve, tube, and

plunger arrangement, a multi-pole, single-coil relay, :1 multi-pole double-coil relay, and electrical conductor means so interconnecting said switches and said relays that said single-coil relay, when deenergized, will establish an energizing circuit for one coil of said double-coil relay upon the closing of said two-pole switch through said one pole thereof, such energization of said double-coil relay actuating the relay to open such energizing circuit and to set up an energizing circuit for said single-coil relay through said upper limit switch, and a circuit for energizing the other coil of said double-coil relay upon the subsequent energization of said single-coil relay, such subsequent energization occurring upon the closure of said upper limit switch to establish, thereby, a holding circuit for said single-coil relay through said lower limit the energizing circuit for said one coil of said doublecoil relay for energization upon the subsequent closing of said two-pole switch through said one pole thereof.

9. The device of claim 8 including a second single-coil relay, the power input for said control means being dominated by said relay, a Start-Stop switch, and electrical conductor means so interconnecting the actuating coil of said second single-coil relay with the doublecoil relays of both fluid valve, tube, and plunger arrangements that, upon the closing of the starting portion of said Start-Stop switch, said actuating coil will be energized, provided at least one of said one coils of said double-coil relays has previously been energized, such energization of said actuating coil of said second single-coil relay establishing energizing circuits from a power source to said control means and a holding circuit for said second, single-coil relay, and so that the concurrent energization of said other coils of both said double-coil relays will open the holding circuit to said second singlecoil relay thus breaking the energizing circuits from said power source to the components of said control means.

10. In a container filling machine, a pair of scales, means for supporting an empty container on each scale, means for delivering material alternatively to one or the other of said containers, motor means for driving said last-named means to change the flow of material from one container to the other as said one container becomes filled, control means for said motor means responsive to the movement of one of said scales as the container thereon becomes filled, control means for said motor means responsive to the movement of the other of said scales as the container thereon becomes filled, and means so interconnecting the two said control means that should the containers on both scales become filled, the entire machine will be shut down.

11. In a device of the class described, a pair of latorally-spaced, substantially-vertical filling tubes communicable at their lower, open ends with containers to be filled with material, each of said tubes being provided, in its wall facing the other tube, with a lateral port, hopper means disposed between said tubes, substantially in facing, sliding engagement with said facing tube walls and having oppositely-opening ports communicating directly with said tube ports, respectively, said hopper means being provided with an opening intermediate said hopper ports for the passage of material thereinto, reversible means mounted in said hopper means to direct the flow of material through said hopper means alternatively through said hopper ports to said tubes, motor means operatively connected to said reversible means, and control means operatively associated with each of said tubes and responsive to the amount of material in a tube and a container associated therewith to energize said motor means to direct the flow of material from said hopper away from a filled tube and to an unfilled tube.

12. In a device of the class described, a pair of laterally-spaced, substantially-vertical filling tubes communicable at their lower, open ends with containers to be filled with material, means associated with each tube for suspending a container therefrom, hopper means disposed between said tubes and communicating therewith, said hopper means being provided with an opening for the passage of material thereinto, reversible means mounted in said hopper means to direct the flow of ma terial through said hopper means alternatively to said switch, and an energizing circuit for said fluid valve,

said holding circuit being broken by the opening of said lower limit switch thus opening the energizing circuit for said fluid valve and the energizing circuit for said other coil of said double-coil relay, and reestablishing versible means, control means for each of said tubes and constructed and arranged to be responsive to the amount of material in a tube and a container associated therewith to energize said motor means to direct the flow of material from said hopper away from a filled tube and to an unfilled tube, a plunger for each tube axially reciprocable therein between a position above the point of communication with said hopper and a position adjacent tubes and communicatingdirectly therewith, said hopper means being provided with an opening for the passage of material thereinto, reversible means mounted in said hopper means to direct the fiow of material through said hopper means alternatively to said tubes, motor means operatively connected to said reversible means, and control means for each of said tubes, said control means including a light-responsive means and a light source disposed respectively on opposite sides of a translucent portion of each tube and responsive to the height of a column of material in its tube and an associated container to energize said motor means to direct the flow of material from said hopper away from a filled tube and to an unfilled tube.

14. In a device of the class described, a pair of laterally-spaced, substantially-vertical filling tubes communicable at their lower, open ends with containers to be filled with material, means associated with each tube for suspending a containertherefrom, hopper means disposed between said tubes and communicating therewith, said hopper means being provided with an opening for'the passage of material thereinto, reversible means mounted in said hopper means to direct the flow of material through said hopper means alternatively to said tubes, motor means operatively connected to said reversible means, control means for each. of said tubes, said control means including a light-responsive means anda light source disposed respectively on opposite sides of a trans lucent portion of each tube and responsive to the height of a column of material in its tube and a container suspended therefrom to energize said motor means to direct the flow of material from said hopper away from a filled tube and to an unfilled tube, a plunger for each tube axially reciprocable therein between a position above the point of communication with said hopper and a position adjacent the lower, open end of said tube to compact the material in the container suspended therefrom, and motor means for each plunger operatively connected to drive its plunger through one stroke only after'its associated control means has acted to energize said firstnamed motor means to direct material flow away from its associated tube and toward the other tube. V

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